The Lagos Stategovernment on Monday, November 27, crushed 1,500 apprehended commercial motorcycles popularly called Okada in a renewed onslaught against Okada operation in the 10 local governments and 15 local council development areas (LCDAS) in the state.
The commissioner for transportation, Oluwaseun Osiyemi, who disclosed this while supervising the crushing of the motorcycles at the Taskforce Yard, Alausa, Ikeja, said this is in line with the government’s commitment to the safety and security of lives and property. He said the exercise is an indication that the government is not rescinding its decision to apprehend, impound, and crush recalcitrant motorcycles plying all restricted areas.
He said: “The ban on Okada in specified areas is crucial for maintaining order, reducing risks associated with unauthorized motorcycle operation, and also improving security.”
The prohibited local government areas include; Kosofe, Oshodi-Isolo, Somolu, Mushin, Apapa, Ikeja, Lagos Island, Lagos Mainland, Surulere, and Eti-Osa.
The Local Council Development Areas under them which the ban also covered include; Ojodu, Onigbongbo, Lagos Island East, Yaba, and Coker Aguda. Others are; Itire-Ikate, Eti-Osa West, Iru Victoria Island, Ikoyi-Obalende, Ikosi-Isheri, Agboyi-Ketu, Isolo, Ejigbo, Bariga, and Odi-Olowo.
The commissioner urged Okada operators to obey the ban order in the prohibited areas, adding that Okada is not a safe means of commercial transportation and does not fit into the transport policy of the state.
Also present at the crushing exercise are the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Transportation, Olawale Musa, and other officials of the ministry.
Universities in Nigeria are battling a severe shortage of staff as thousands of lecturers leave the tertiary institutions to seek greener pastures in foreign lands amid the high number of retirements at the varsities.
The Academic Staff Union of Universities branches in separate interviews with The PUNCH on Sunday confirmed this, adding that the shortage was due to the surge in the exit of the lecturers out of Nigeria and the concerns around the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System.
ASUU at the Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, said about 100 lecturers had left the university, while the union at the Federal University, Gusau, Zamfara, disclosed that the institution was in need of about 1,000 lecturers to fill the vacancies created by those who had left.
The union at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State said over 350 academic vacancies were available at the institution, while 27 lecturers had left two faculties at the University of Lagos, as 100 workers at the University of Uyo travelled out of the country.
The union disclosed that about 500 academic vacancies existed at the University of Ilorin in Kwara State, while both academic and non-academic staff of the Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology were leaving the country.
The Chairman, Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology, Okitipupa, Ondo State, Dr. Rotimi Olorunsola, said many of the staff of the institution, both academic and non-academic, had left the university.
Olorunsola said, “Yes, some have japa (travelled out of the country), both the academic staff and non-academic.”
The Head of the Media and Protocol, Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko, Mr Victor Akinpelumi, confirmed that many workers of the institution had moved out of the institution.
“It is true many workers, both academic and non-academic, have left the university, but as I am now, I can’t give a specific number. I can confirm that many workers of the university have gone,” he stated.
The Chairman of ASUU, University of Benin, Dr Ray Chikogu, said the shortage of staff in UNIBEN and other universities had been a problem that existed for a long time due to the embargo on employment by the Federal Government.
He said this constituted undue interference by the government in the running of the universities, especially as it affected the recruitment and promotion of staff.
He said, “The teaching staff department is grossly understaffed. For a very long time, academic staff have been overburdened with work in the University of Benin and many other universities in the country.
“It has been a problem for a number of years now because of the embargo on employment in federal universities and the process of recruitment of staff is a very cumbersome one. The university has to obtain permission from the head of service through the accountant-general’s office.
Fighter jets of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) on Saturday struck terrorist enclaves in the Nigeria’s North-east, killing 100 terrorists. A war update issued by the NAF said the Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai, carried out air strikes on an isolated location consisting of three structures in the midst of several trees in Borno State.
It said the air interdiction was one of the most successful strikes undertaken by the Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai on November 24, 2023. The update signed by the Spokesman of the Nigerian Air Force, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, said “from the footage, it was evident that the terrorists were massing up at the location for either a well-planned meeting or preparing for a major attack on our own troops.
“Over 100 heavily armed terrorists were observed throwing banters and moving randomly around the structures, which also had four troop carriers”, it said.
“The aftermath of the air strike revealed that two out of the three structures as well as the entire troop carriers were destroyed.
“There are also indications that Abu Asad, a key figure in the Ali Ngulde group under Boko Haram, as well as other terrorists like Ibrahim Nakeeb, Mujaheed Dimtu, Mustafa Munzir and several fighters were among the several terrorists eliminated in the air strike”, it said.
The update affirmed that the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, has since commended the air component commander and his men while urging them to continue to synergize with the land component as they maintain the momentum in, “keeping the terrorists on their toes.”
“We must continue to justify the trust and confidence the federal government and our people have bestowed on us by ensuring that we go all out in making life unbearable for these terrorists and criminals until they surrender or are completely eliminated,” he said.
The Biafra Defacto Customary Government, BDFCG, has called on the delegation to the 2014 National Conference to unearth and advocate for the implementation of the conference report, saying it holds crucial recommendations for the equitable control of resources.
In a press statement issued in Awka, the Pro-Biafran group noted exploitation by Waltersmith Petroman Oil Limited, and the exploitative practices of private interests associated with Orient Petroleum Resources in their areas of operation, saying it has deprived the (people) Biafrans of the economic benefits derived from the natural resources, perpetuating an unjust distribution of individual and social welfare.
The statement signed by BDFCG Spokesperson, Prosper Odinga, warned that the economic well-being of the people is at stake, and that private interests can no longer be allowed to compromise the potential benefits of the natural resources, insisting that there is no reason why anybody should lack anything in Biafraland just as it described sale of fuel above N70 per litre as criminal.
The statement reads in full:
Biafra Natural Resources Must Be For The People’s Welfare Rather Than An Instrument Of Oppression
As it appears currently, Biafran natural resources are being exploited in the guise of one Nigeria by Fulani-Hausa and Yoruba trio post conflict winners alliance with their oligarchies and crony perpetrators.
The Biafra De Facto Customary Government (BDFCG) wishes to make this clarification bordering on uneven distribution of our God-given natural resources where very few privileged economic and political buccaneers are living large at the expense of majority of the people. We bring to the forefront two distinct but interrelated issues that demand public awareness – the exploitation by Waltersmith Petroman Oil Limited and the exploitative practices of private interests associated with Orient Petroleum Resources.
It has come to our attention that Waltersmith Petroman Oil Limited is significantly exploiting oil within Biafran territory. Their modular refinery in Ibigwe, Ohaji/Egbema located in today’s Local Government Area of Imo State, is producing over 600 million litres of various petroleum products. Shockingly, the people are estranged in this natural resource exploitation and sharing of the dividends.
This situation is deeply troubling as it deprives Biafrans of the economic benefits derived from our natural resources, perpetuating an unjust distribution of individual and social welfare. This exploitation further exacerbates the disparities our people have long suffered from, leading to economic marginalization.
Moreover, we are alarmed by recent attempts by the Federal Government to enforce crude oil supply to Dangote through the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission. If successful, this move would divert even more resources away from our region, leaving us at a severe disadvantage.
In addition to oil exploitation, we expose exploitative practices by private interests, particularly those associated with Orient Petroleum Resources and Ibeto. The clandestine activities involving Ibeto, a major shareholder in Orient Petroleum Resource.
Today’s Anambra, known as the Gas capital of Nigeria, holds approximately 30 trillion cubic feet of gas within the Anambra basin alone. However, unscrupulous practices threaten the economic benefits for the local population.
Cotton Wooden Gas Plant Ltd, owned by Ibeto, has commenced full-scale production in Omasi, Ayamelum Local Government Area, generating Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG) and Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) at a rate of 5000 mscf per day. This plant allegedly operates in partnership with Orient Petroleum Resources, taking gas from one of its wells in Enugu Otu Aguleri.
Orient Petroleum Resources, planning to establish the Anambra Gas Fired Independent Power Plant (IPP) at Ughenu, Awka North, raises concerns about equitable resource distribution.
BDFCG demands immediate investigation and intervention by relevant authorities to halt these exploitative practices. The economic well-being of our people is at stake, and we cannot allow private interests to compromise the potential benefits of our natural resources.There is no reason why anybody should lack anything in Biafraland. It is criminal to sell fuel above N70 per litre!
We call upon our delegation to the 2014 National Conference to unearth and advocate for the implementation of the conference report, which holds crucial recommendations for the equitable control of resources.
The Biafran people stand united in our quest for justice, autonomy, and control over our resources. We urge all stakeholders to recognize the significance of the Aburi Accord and the imperative for genuine restructuring, acknowledging the rights of self determination of willing indigenous people in the colonial concocted Nigeria territory.
The President General of Nnobi community in Idemili South Local Government Area of Anambra State, Barr. Dominic-Savio Okpala, has said that the town union and the entire community are not ready to accept further intimidation and oppression from the traditional institution of the community.
Speaking to the press after an Emergency Representative General Meeting of the community, Barr. Okpala alleged that meddlesomeness of the traditional institution into the town union administration, which has been going on for a long time, is fuelling crisis in Nnobi, regretting that for showing restraint, members of the leadership of the town union are being pressed further to the wall.
He alleged that the highpoint was that recently, while exercising powers given to them by Nnobi Central Executive Committee to address crisis in the community, some officers of the town union were arrested, handcuffed and taken into detention by direct and indirect orders from the traditional institution, describing it as unacceptable.
The President General said as the political leader of the community, he has brought the sad development to the attention of the Anambra State Commissioner for Local Government and Community Affairs, Mr. Tonycollins Nwabunwanne, adding that the Emergency Representative General Meeting was for Nnobi community members to look into the vexed issues and find a way forward.
For there to be lasting peace, Barrister Okpala called on traditional institution to keep to their duties and functions spelt out under section 15 of the ASTRL; and allow the town union government to function under same law; as reflected and domesticated in Nnobi Town Union Constitution 2011.
He noted that there is a clear-cut dichotomy in the provisions of the Anambra State Traditional Rulers Law; spelling out the powers of traditional institution and the town union administration, saying it’s expected that each of the components should abide by the constitutional provisions.
Lending his voice, the Traditional Prime Minister (Onowu) of the community, Barr. Sir. Onyechi Ifezue Esqr., expressed displeasure over the rift in Nnobi, pointing out its negative impact, and proposed setting up a committee to address the whole issues, warning that anyone who goes against the agreement of the committee will be dealt with in “Nnobi way”.
He said that peace and unity is necessary for progress of the community, and called on the traditional and political institutions of Nnobi to have the interest of the community first in all their dealings.
Contributing, the Chairman of Ngo Nnobi and former member of Nnobi Caretaker Committee, Dr Pat Mbanefo, who said that the issue in the community is trying to tear it apart, expressed happy with large turnout of people at the meeting, including the youths; whom he said are seeing things for themselves, and the women; to be able to advise at home.
He informed that in the meeting, constitutional matters in the community were addressed, and the 2023 Revised Constitution of Nnobi Community approved, urging all to come clean and help move the town forward.
Regretting that the problem in the community has existed for long because, except few persons; people of the community were not politically conscious, Dr Mbanefo explained that when more people become conscious, the problem set in because of actions of people benefiting from the old order.
Among other issues that have stalled development of the community, the Nnobi community stakeholder recalled how disunity cost them the Idemili North Local Government Headquarters when it was Obiaja Local Government.
Also at the meeting, Nnobi constitution amendment committee presented the final draft of the work to the town union leadership, and it was agreed that the document will be sent to the Anambra State Government for input and confirmation of conformity with that of the state.
… i didn’t see my baby after delivery – victim informs court
The Children, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Court of Anambra State has remanded a suspended Catholic Priest, Rev. Fr. Stephen Nwaigwe to correctional center for allegedly raping and impregnating a teenager he was living with.
Offence of sexual intercourse with a minor is punishable under section 34(2) of the Child’s Rights Law of Anambra State, 2004.
Fr. Nwigwe was also accused of forcefully taking the pregnant minor to Benin City, Edo State, where she was delivered of her baby.
Police investigation however revealed that the whereabouts of the said baby is still unknown.
It was gathered that the priest was among those expelled by Two Hearts of Love Congregation” (Ugwu Nso), a popular Catholic faith-based religious congregation in Orlu, Imo State, in 2018, over alleged misconducts inimical to the image of the order.
Source informed our Correspondent that the priest met the teenager at the St. Albert The Great Catholic Church Parish, Obosi, Anambra State, where he was invited for a religious church programme.
Responding to questions in the court during remand proceedings on Monday November 20, 2023, the victim said the priest took her from her parents to live with him when she was 14 years old, with a promise to sponsor her education, while she equally served as his cook.
She further stated that not long after she moved into the priest’s house, he started forcing himself sexually on her, which continued until she became pregnant at the age of 17.
The victim further stated that when she informed the priest about her pregnancy, the priest took her from Ihiala, Anambra State, where they lived, to somewhere in Benin City, Edo State, to the house of a man and woman the priest introduced to her as his brother and brother’s wife.
When the minor gave birth to the baby at a native birth attendant’s house in Benin City, she said she was told that the baby died, and when she made efforts to see the dead baby, they told her it has been buried.
Asked if she had been gang-raped before, the minor said no, and alleged that while on the way to Benin City, the priest told her to say that she was gang-raped.
Police prosecutor, during remand proceedings, informed the court that there was a probable cause to order the remand of the priest.
However, the defence counsel applied for bail of the defendant, urging the court to exercise his disrection of bail in favour of the defendant, while citing Sections 13(3), 71(3), 72 and 73 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law (ACJL) of Anambra State, 2022, as well as, Sections 35 and 36 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, as Amended.
He also prayed the court to grant bail to the priest in most liberal terms; assuring the court that the priest would never jump bail if granted.
But, in a vehement opposition to the bail application by the defence counsel, the police prosecutor prayed the court to refuse bail to the clergyman, stating that the case before the court was an offence against a minor who was supposedly under the spiritual guardianship of the defendant.
The prosecuting police officer emphasised that the defendant had since been suspended by the authorities of the Roman Catholic Church, noting that the claim that the defendant had serious health challenge to warrant being granted bail, was never certified by a qualified medical personnel, as required by the ACJL, 2022.
According to the police prosecutor, the defendant could jump bail and leave the country without standing his trial, if granted bail.
Ruling on the bail application, the presiding Chief Magistrate, Genevieve Osakwe, stated that the case before the court was an offence punishable with life imprisonment, regretting that the offence of rape against minors was becoming rampant in the society.
She warned that the court would not fold its hands to watch the society decay, irrespective of whose ox is gored.
The court gave numerous instances of similar offences which had appeared before it in the past, mentioning specifically, a case involving a-75 year old man who also allegedly raped a minor and was accordingly remanded.
In the light of the above stance and other submissions by the honourable court, on point-of-Law, the defendant, Rev. Fr. Stephen Nwaigwe was accordingly remanded in the Correctional Center, even as the court urged him to seek his bail at the High Court.
Meanwhile, the Presiding Chief Magistrate ordered the Prosecuting Police Officer to transmit the original case file to the office of the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice of Anambra State.
She therefore adjourned the case to the 6th day of December, 2023, for report of compliance.
There is no doubt that idolatry is on the increase in Anambra communities. Perhaps this could be as a result of many factors; frustration by some with the Christian and other religious faiths due to many reasons which may include; unfulfilled life expectations, greed and the quest for material acquisition (Ego Mbute), increasing moral decadence in the society, sudden realization of the need to re-connect to African culture by young people, ignorance, coercion, unchecked campus cultism leading to advanced cultism in later years etc.
During the heavy period of incessant kidnappings and associated activities of unknown gunmen in Anambra state, Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo remarked thus; “Idolatry is the fastest growing religion in the state and we must not take it for granted”. His assertion must have been informed by intelligence from security agencies who after every raid of kidnappers camps discovered shrines and other paraphernalia of idol worshipping. Confessions from kidnappers also pointed in that direction. One could easily agree with this as viral videos of barbaric acts including beheading of kidnapped victims, roasting of human bodies, drinking of human blood etc signposted a rising devilish counter culture in our society leading to the general outcry against widespread ‘alu’ (evil acts) people were beholding.
All manner of shrines dot Anambra’s many rural communities. The shrines are patronized by people for different reasons. It appears that young people are the main patronizers. I have always argued that we should make a distinction between ‘good odinana’ and ‘bad odinana’ to avoid a situation of throwing the baby away with the dirty bath water.
I subscribe to ‘good odinana’ which our forefathers practised, such as breaking of kolanut, pouring of libation, marking of chalk on the floor (itu nzu), honouring our ancestors etc. Back then, native doctors were respected for their knowledge of efficacy of herbs and roots which they used in healing the sick. Some of them specialized in ‘igba okpukpu’ – bone fracture repairs etc. Unfortunately, the activities of modern day digital dibias and social media pastors have led to the condemnation of everything odinana. The new-age dibias bait our young people and promise them riches through preparation of ‘Ibobo’, ‘oke ite’ and other such ‘ogwu ego’ rituals. New age pastors are not any different, they lure the gullible to streams and rivers with rams and chickens etc and perform all sorts of wealth rituals for them.
There was a time Anambra state government tried to regulate the practice of traditional medicine practitioners. The present Deputy Governor of Anambra state, Dr Onyeka Ibezim was in charge of that agency as Special Adviser to the Governor on Traditional Medicine Practice. This was during the administration of Governor Willie Obiano. This earned Dr. Ibezim the ‘Ezedibia’ appellation.
As part of the 13-part Igbo cultural series that I recorded which are being shared on my Facebook page and YouTube channel, titled ‘Journey To The Ancient Paths’, I captured my visit to Nemkpa stream in Enugwu-Ukwu in Episodes 6, 7 and 8 and had a conversation with the presiding Chief Priest of Ogwugwu shrine who goes by the name Akajiofor. I clearly propagated the practice of ‘good odinana’ during our conversation which eschews spilling of innocent blood and other such related evil acts.
We frequented the Nemkpa stream freely as youngsters to fetch water for my grandmother but to my surprise, shrines have now been erected near the stream as it has been taken over by ‘Ezenwanyi’ and ‘Akajiofor’. Members of the community don’t visit the stream anymore as the shrines scared them away.
I don’t think that the solution is to burn their places of traditional religious worship. I subscribe to regulating their practice and knowing what they do. Medical doctors regulate their members through the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), while the government regulates them through the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN). Christian pastors and priests regulate their members through the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) and other bodies.
We should not leave the traditional religion worshippers and their chief priests unregulated and to their own devices. That’s a more dangerous option.
Dr. Chinweoke Mbadinuju, former Governor of Anambra State (1999 – 2003) was laid to rest this weekend. With this, the lineup of state activities to mark his funeral comes to an end. To me, Mbadinuju’s demise offered our society another opportunity to deeply reflect on the burdens of leadership. Instead of that, we characteristically chose the easy route.
“Speak no ill of the dead” became an excuse and indeed a misleading principle to continue operating in deception. I, for one, do not understand why one will lead a terrible life, and we all bemoan the terrible life while the person is alive. But once he or she closes her eyes in death, we hastily replace those evaluations with beautiful elegies which we and everyone concerned, including the dead, know are misleading.
I have no interest in discussing the private affairs of the late Gov. Mbadinuju. Even if I had, I won’t be competent enough to discuss such issues. However, Mbadinuju’s governance records ought to be reviewed, not necessarily to preserve history, but to instruct the hearts of present and future leaders.
Of all Mbadinuju’s governance records, the two most outstanding should be the shutting down of public schools for one year, and the brutal murder of Mr Barnabas Igwe and his wife Mrs Amaka Igwe in Onitsha. There is an official record of the attendant investigation and prosecution of alleged culprits of that heinous crime. So I will like to leave it at that. Just that the point of the metaphorical witch crying in the night and the baby dying in the morning should be highlighted, even if in passing.
Now specifically on the industrial action which led to the closure of public schools in Anambra for nearly one full academic year. While the teachers were petitioning their lowly estate and the school children were languishing at home, “Odera” as he was called, and his goons went about town shouting “It shall be well with Anambra State.”
I can’t help but think of the relationship between that mischievous catchphrase and more recent ones like “Enugu is in the hands of God,” “Willie is working,” “Solution is here” “Tommorrow is here” and the rest. Make no mistake, there is nothing wrong with capturing ideas in moving phrases. It becomes mischievous when such collocation of words becomes a tool of grand deception.
Hebrews 13:10a, for Christians, is exceptionally instructive. “Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account.” While the responsibility of the masses has been repeatedly emphasized by church leaders, the opportunity to equally highlight the leaders’ responsibility of keeping watch over souls as one who will give account has been spectacularly missed.
If people receive proper teachings about the enormity of the burdens of leadership, not many would aspire to become leaders. When one becomes the Governor of Anambra State, for example, God entrusts in his care the lives of 6.2 million citizens and residents of the state. The Governor and the people he governs with determine how many avoidable deaths will be recorded due to the quality of care or lack of oxygen and other essential supplies in public healthcare institutions.
He determines, for instance, how many will die in preventable accidents due to badly-done roads or the absence of emergency services.
That person and his governing elite determine how many businesses will be wiped out in preventable or better-managed fire outbreaks. He, to a reasonable degree, determines the number of people that will be kidnapped or killed by “unknown gunmen.” He determines the number of individuals or communities he will, or allow opportunists to dispossess of their lands without proper compensation. He determines the number of houses that will be destroyed or individuals that will be killed in preventable inter-communal wars.
The point should be clear by now; Leadership is such a weighty burden! Only fools reduce such consequential assignments to mere money-making ventures.
If you reflect deeper, not only are individual lives or businesses affected by the daily decisions or indecisiveness of the leader. But the many dependents of that person or business, and future generations that are tied to that individual or business will equally be affected. It is in light of this understanding that I choose to interrogate Mbadinuju’s public education scorecard.
Whatever the reasons, some say it is his inability to stand up to godfathers, Mbadinuju failed to pay the salary of teachers and allowed public schools to be closed for an extended period. Parents who had the means withdrew their kids and sent them to private schools. Others couldn’t afford it. The saddest part is that no one knew the issues would last that long.
“Like play like play, de thing enter one year” one parent recounts. During that period, some schoolchildren fell into drugs, truancy, unwanted pregnancies, gangsterism and other vices. Some of them did not make it back to school when the strike was called off. Some did, but the habits picked up while being away from school for far too long had become distracting. It wouldn’t be long before some of them eventually stopped striving.
While those schoolchildren and their caregivers will have to take individual responsibilities for their choices, the chief executive who watered the ground for such large-scale disruption in the lives of those schoolchildren will have an account to give to his Maker.
Not only have some of those youngsters been permanently damaged. A good number of them who escaped untimely death due to their operations on the “fast lane” have become or are becoming parents. I know of one of those “Mbadinuju boys” who smoke weed in the presence of his 2-year-old daughter. This particular person was so focused and used to come top of his class before Mbadinuju happened to him. Yes, he made his choices, but Mbadinuju watered the ground.
Except God intervenes, there is a high likelihood that one moment of Mbadinuju’s executive indiscretion will have a cross-generational impact. If further investigations are done, it is possible that some of those “Mbadinuju boys” may have become part of the “unknown gunmen” terrorizing Anambra state today.
Even with his peculiar shortcomings, you will give it to Peter Obi. He is one of the few pronounced public servants who understand this accountability burden of leadership. In one of those witty moments which can only come after deep reflection, Obi prophetically quipped that the children we abuse today will take revenge on the society tomorrow.
For Gov. Mbadinuju, that “tomorrow is here.” His immediate family will either have to rely on a detachment of police/military resources or pay “unknown” gunmen for his funeral to be peacefully conducted in Ihiala LGA of Anambra State today.
It is important to mention that Mbadinuju did not act alone. He had accomplices in the banking sector, media, civil society, House of Assembly, church, traditional rulers, influencers, political appointees, and the rest. There were several people who God empowered their voices to either stop him or call him to order. Some did, with its attendant consequences. Others, for selfish reasons, failed to deploy all the resources available to them to bring reproof to that erring king. Some of the prophets of that generation, just like you have of this generation, lost their voices and became worshippers of men and money. Some of those people have today faded into thin air. Others are still seemingly “powering.”
Leadership is a burden. Late Chinweoke Mbadinuju didn’t understand this burden dimension of leadership. For many, he thus became a “destruction that laid waste at noonday.” Present and future leaders still have the opportunity to learn how to approach their God-given assignments with fear and trembling. It is hoped that this review of Mbadinuju’s stewardship becomes another reminder that actions have consequences. And actions of leaders even have much more reverberating consequences.
According to a statement from his family, Dr. Chinweoke Mbadinuju died on the 11th of April, 2023 at the National Hospital Abuja at the age of 78 years. May God, the All-merciful, comfort both those who are mourning Mbadinuju’s governance misdeeds and those who are mourning his death.
By Gab Ndu Okpalaeze
Late Dr Clement Chinwoke Mbadinuju, former governor of Anambra state of Nigeria, aged 77, is being laid to rest today, 24th November 2023. Mbadinuju, popularly known as Odera, was at the helm of affairs at the government house, Agu-Awka from 1999 to 2003.
William Shakespeare, in one of his books, Julius Caesar, writes that when beggars die, there are no comets seen, but the heavens themselves blaze forth the death of princes.
This is even truer in typical African and some other societies, where slaves were often buried alongside their lords. But are we seeing the comets in the Anambra firmament today?
Speak no ill of the dead, is an admonition well taken across the globe. It buttresses the fact that the dead is no longer there to speak for himself or herself.
But are all these long established fair treatment and tributes due to the dead coming the way of Dr Chinwoke Mbadinuju, being a high profile personality by academic, societal and political accomplishments?
The answer may be in the negative because a typical Anambra society is wont to remember his administration with a not-so-kind nostalgia. Very many of the people still make reference to the months of strike by labour unions, culminating in closure of public schools for the period. This unfavourable assessment is fueled by the bad press unleashed on the administration by its numerous adversaries
It was a common- place talk that he did not “do anything in his four years at Agu- Awka”. This sweeping statement though, cannot stand the test of time if only we could pause to ponder, or “go and verify”.
One is therefore cut at a cross road with the idea of a differing opinion from the people’s, that being like a lone voice in wilderness of already made up minds. But at the risk of sounding unpopular, it has to be said that former governor Chinwoke Mbadinuju whose remains are being interred today, was a fine gentleman and statesman, full of ideas and with great passion to move his state forward.
The idea of an Anambra state university of science and technology, with main campus at Uli, the great trek to an oil producing status for Anambra, the Women Development Centre, Awka, Ekwueme Square, Awka, Joint Action on Development, JAD, and Anambra state Vigilante Services ( Bakassi Boys) were indeed no mean feats, and they were all original to him. He initiated more ingenious projects and programmes, but some were unrealized under his tenure, ostensibly due to the stranglehold of his political God fathers.
As a journalist who plied my trade in Anambra and covered the state house from inception of the state in 1991, I feel a sense of duty to recall the atmosphere under which Dr Cee Cee Mbadinuju served as governor.
Few weeks into his administration, and days to the inauguration of the state house of assembly, rumours were rife that a certain god father from Ekwusigo axis of Anambra state had quartered the would-be law makers at a hotel outside the state, with a view to getting them to form a permanent threat of impeachment to the just sworn in state chief executive. The rumour became real as Gov Mbadinuju had to cry to high heavens himself, before some of the legislators left the other rank and returned to Awka, even though in the minority.
And so from day one of the inauguration of the house, there were divisions and fights engineered by men who believed they were more powerful than government. Under such chaotic atmosphere, not much could be achieved as so much mental and fiscal resources were going in to wrestle power from the jaws of the tigers and jackals.
Close watchers believe this battle was just half won by the governor as another group of god- fathers emerged from Aguata axis, using their “connection to the presidency” to force very many infamous fiscal policies down the throat of the administration. One of the most infamous agreements is the Irrevocable Standing Order of Payment, devised by the evil genius. Under such order, humongous percentage of Anambra allocation from the federation account is deducted from source on monthly basis, for some phantom projects they claim to be executing for government. The bottom line is that few millions trickle in for both capital and recurrent expenditure, as the contractor would have fleeced the state treasury at source. This is not an attempt to defend the Odera administration but a modest contribution towards fair assessment of his administration.
Apart from financial hermorrhage that characterized that administration, the man Odera was a man with heart of gold, identifying with the poor and most vulnerable. In all he did, he feared his creator and made attempts to remain at peace with God by promoting justice and fairness. This writer benefitted from his fairness when barely three months into his tenure, he reviewed the sack by executive fiat of six journalists under the employ of the state by a predecessor military administration. Here was a man who was down to earth and initiated poverty alleviation policies and programmes, though the hawks and sharks around the corridors of power could not allow them to fruition.
As Dr Cee Cee Mbadinuju is laid to rest twenty years after he left office, it is gratifying to note that a Daniel has come to his judgement, in the person of the incumbent governor, Prof Cee Cee Soludo.
During the Commendation ceremony held yesterday, 23/11/23, at the International Convention Centre, ICC, Awka, as part of the weeklong state burial programme for the late former governor, Prof Soludo appreciated the numerous initiatives taken by Odera upon which the state is standing today.
In a most striking way, he made a vow, on behalf of all of us, that “we will not forget.”
History was made today in Enugu as Alaigbo Development Foundation ( ADF) headed by Prof Uzodinma Nwala officially inaugurates her youth wing of ADF . Speaking at the event ,Board of Trustee Chairman of ADF – Bishop Onukogu reassured the Youths at the event that ADF elders are behind them ,advising that the whole idea of ADF is to support and encourage the interest of every Igbo sons and daughters both at home and in Diaspora. Bishop Onukogu concluded by saying that we must unite to survive the present economic and political strangulation. Also ,Prof Uzodinma Nwala gave his historical perspective on the journey of ADF so far …..
